Original subtitles

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( upbeat western theme playing )

( barking )

Thanks, W.L.

So long, Swan.

( car door closes )

( car door closes )

( car engine starts )

MAN: Uh, Mr. Swan.

Mr. Swan, isn't it?

I'm Dan Southern of the Pinon City Advocate.

We try to run a few lines about all former residents

who've come back for the big celebration.

You're not being very funny.

No comment, Mr. Swan?

( chuckles )

But I gotta write something.

How does this sound:

Another distinguished visitor back for Founder's Week

is Mr. Fred S. Swan.

Uh, former manager of the local bank.

Since leaving Pinon City three years ago,

Mr. Swan has resided at San Quentin, California,

where we understand he's been working in the library.

Mr. Swan's peculiar ability with books is well-known here.

I served my time.

Is it necessary to persecute me?

Persecute you.

Legally you may be clean,

but morally you're still a thief.

What about Iris McKay?

She was never accused in a court of law,

but thanks to you,

Pinon City has been about as rough on her

as it was on you.

Oh, yes. Dan Southern.

You're the old boyfriend, aren't you?

Well, your concern for Iris

is coming a little late, isn't it?

I said even then that you'd never give her

the embezzled money.

But she never hide it for you,

that was just crazy gossip.

Are you telling me or asking me?

You get out of here.

You get clear out of town.

Or maybe I'll do what I should have done three years ago.

( dramatic theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

Hello, Mr. Drake.

Remember me?

Anyone as lovely as you--

You made an investigation for me three years ago.

I just moved here from Pinon City.

That's right. Perry Mason sent you to me.

Let's see. An embezzler, hometown banker,

a man by the name of Swan,

came up a little short, or something

and then tried to make it look

like the bank had been robbed.

Thirty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.

A lot short, excuse me.

Sure, you're Iris McKay. Sit down, please.

Thank you.

Then the gossips said that Swan gave you the money,

and that you either kept it or hid it for him.

That's why I left town.

Everybody kept watching me,

following me.

I really only dated Fred Swan a few times.

But unfortunately, it was just at the wrong time.

I'm sorry.

I sure wasn't much help clearing your name, was I?

But even the FBI hasn't been able to find that money.

However, if you have a new case

maybe I can be more help.

Heh. Well, it's sort of the same one.

This is the Pinon City Advocate.

It was sent to me by mail.

"Another distinguished visitor

"to Founder's Week is Mr. Fred S. Swan,

"former manager of the local bank.

"Speculation is rampant

regarding the reason for Mr. Swan's return."

"Suppose he's come back for the money?"

IRIS: It was clipped to the newspaper.

No signature.

Well, I've got a pretty good idea who sent it.

Anyway, I'm going to find out.

You're going back?

I'm going back and find Fred Swan,

and find out what he did with that money.

At least he was always polite to me.

And if I can just make him tell people--

Iris,

maybe I'd better go with you.

We'll both talk to Swan.

I'm sure I can do this much better alone, Mr. Drake.

I just want to make sure you'd come to Pinon City

if I did need you.

Of course I will.

Heh. Thank you.

Iris.

Where will you be staying in Pinon City?

I have one relative in the world,

my Aunt Sarah.

I'm sure she also believes the worst about me.

But at least she has plenty of room.

Thank you, Mr. Drake.

( upbeat western theme playing )

( railroad bell clanging )

Hello, Aunt Sarah.

You needn't have come to meet me.

I never avoid the unpleasant, Iris.

You're much too pale.

Have you been ill?

No.

I've been fine.

Come along.

The car is out at the side.

Iris.

How are you, Miss Sarah?

Mr. Southern.

Uh, the Advocate likes to run a few lines

of all former residents.

You know, where you've been living,

what you've been doing, any success you've had.

You'll soon notice that the Advocate

has become a scandal sheet.

Uh, we try to bring all the news to our subscribers.

I'll wait for you at the car.

Hello, Iris.

Hello, Dan.

I've wondered what you've been doing.

Well, I've been living in Los Angeles.

I model clothes for a living, and I pay my own expenses.

Isn't that a success story?

It sure is.

I, uh--

I hear Fred Swan's back in town too.

I heard he was here yesterday.

You mean he's gone again?

Is that why you came back?

Because of Fred Swan?

Maybe.

Yeah, it figures.

Okay, you might try the Plantation Motel, Cabin 6.

I saw him go in there.

He's drives a blue camper.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Aunt Sarah, would you do me a favor, please?

I'd like to borrow your car later this afternoon.

Now, Iris,

you know very well I've never permitted

anyone else to drive it.

I haven't wanted to question you,

but what do you want?

Why are you here, Iris?

I came back to dig up the missing money

from where I buried it.

Perhaps I deserve that.

Oh, Aunt Sarah, admit it.

You never believed me.

You never believed there was nothing between

Fred Swan and me.

I never said I didn't believe it.

But things haven't changed in Pinon City.

All right.

You may borrow the machine.

I just hope you know what you're doing, Iris.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Yes?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I thought someone else was staying in this cabin.

I, uh, heard he was here yesterday.

Yesterday?

No. I've been staying here for a week.

I'm Marta Wiltern. San Francisco.

Iris McKay. Los Angeles.

Oh, um, won't you come in?

Thank you.

Didn't you used to live in Pinon City?

Yes. I'm here visiting my aunt.

Miss Sarah.

I have vague memories of her.

I was a child, but even then she was a grand lady.

Sit down.

Thank you.

I visit here occasionally.

Do you know the Buskirk farm?

Well, I know where it is.

I used to work for a real estate man, W.L. Picard.

He handled the sale for that farm.

Heh. How things have changed.

When I knew that farm it was nothing

but a lot of dried-up, worthless land,

like most of the valley.

Miss Wiltern, do you know Fred Swan?

Why, yes.

I've met him a couple of times.

Is that who you thought was here?

Yes.

He dropped in to see me.

Do you know where he's staying?

No, I don't, Iris.

As a matter of fact,

he mentioned something about leaving.

Not being particularly welcome here.

It was important to you, wasn't it?

Oh, no.

I just want to check an old business matter with him.

I'm sorry I bothered you.

Nonsense.

I enjoyed your visit.

She couldn't possibly remember I was such a child,

but give my regards to your wonderful Aunt Sarah.

I will. Thank you.

( ominous theme playing )

MARTA: Fred?

Fred.

Marta, what are you doing here?

I thought you ought to know

that little friend of yours is in town.

Who do you mean?

Iris McKay.

She seems to be under the impression

that you're staying in my cabin.

That reporter the other day.

I had no idea that the girl in your past

was quite so attractive.

Oh, no. Real small town stuff.

Forget it.

You know who I'm really interested in.

Do you know what she's interested in, Freddie?

Money.

Oh, that old story.

Well, I'm glad you're not interested in money.

( chuckles )

Why do you suppose that I visited you so often in prison?

My handsome face.

Okay, you're mercenary.

Now, let's have a drink, huh?

You, uh, really ought to worry about her, Freddie.

Aren't you afraid if somebody doesn't stop her,

she'll poke around and upset some very expensive apple carts?

Maybe you're the one that needs to be stopped.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, Miss McKay, it's been a long time

since you've been in my place.

Hello, Mr. Needham. Sit down.

You're looking just fine, beautiful as ever.

Thank you, Mr. Needham.

I got the newspaper and your note.

Note? What do you mean?

The note you sent me

about Fred Swan coming back for the money.

Mr. Needham, I seem to remember

when I worked for W.L. Picard,

seeing some correspondence from you.

I don't follow you.

The note I got in the mail

was in the same fancy type as this.

Just like your menus.

Okay, so you know it was me.

Maybe I shouldn't have played games but

I never believed you and Swan were romancing,

even though you came here together.

And I don't believe you hid that money for him either.

Well, that makes you a minority of one in Pinon City.

But why did you want me to know he was back in town?

Well, maybe there's nothing to it but...

That last night you were here together,

that was the day after he'd

supposedly been robbed at the bank.

Before the police discovered

he was just faking to cover his own embezzlement.

You remember?

Go on.

Well, that night,

Swan excused himself,

left you for a few minutes?

Remember that?

Vaguely. What about it?

Well, he had a small package with him,

wrapped in white paper with a ribbon on it and--

Package?

As a matter of fact, he said it was a present for his landlady.

Alf, do you think--?

The money was in that package?

Yes, I think maybe it was.

The way he hung onto it.

You didn't see, but I did.

But as I remember,

he said the package was just a nuisance

and he was going to leave it here

before we went dancing.

He didn't check it with me.

I know because I saw him give it to somebody else, outside.

Who?

Iris,

that's one of the reasons I sent you that note.

I've never mentioned this before

because it seems so unbelievable.

But I suppose if it'll help really turn up the money,

clear up the whole thing--

Uh, clear up what whole thing?

Hello, everybody.

I wanna see your name cleared, Iris.

Oh, very generous.

What's in it for you, Alf?

I don't have to kid anybody.

There's a little reward

that goes along with finding the money.

That'd be for me.

Mm-hm. A $5,000 reward.

If it's Mr. Swan's money you're talking about.

Maybe I'm talking too much.

Excuse me.

All right, Alf.

Who did Fred Swan give that package to?

Now, you won't take offense.

It's the gospel truth, I--

Your Aunt Sarah.

You must be out of your mind.

You think I could mistake that crazy old chariot of hers?

I tell you, Swan meet her car

and when he come back he didn't have the package.

And she drove off in a hurry and--

I don't believe it!

What did you say to her?

Maybe you'd better explain, Alf.

Like they say in the newspapers, Danny, "no comment".

( ominous theme playing )

Iris. Ha-ha.

Well, how nice to see you.

Hello, W.L.

Let me look at you.

You know, she's still the prettiest girl

we ever raised in this town.

( chuckles )

And the thing that has always bowled me over:

You've got brains in that beautiful head.

Yes sir, you're the best secretary I ever had.

Haven't found anyone since who could do the job half as good.

Can I have my job back?

Oh, now, what chance would I have of getting you back

now that you've been to Hollywood?

( sighs )

I've paid off my back taxes.

You don't know what a relief that is.

With all these outsiders crowding into town

because of the new valley dam,

and every one of them looking for a place to live,

the house could have been sold out from under me.

Now, you be sure and keep these papers

in a nice safe place.

Here, Iris, maybe you'd better take them.

Put them with your folder.

What?

SARAH: The one I sent you last year, dear,

with the family things,

with the sealing wax on it.

A-Aunt Sarah, will you excuse me for a moment?

I think I left something outside.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Operator, I want long distance, please.

Hold on, I'll see if Mr. Mason's available.

Yes, hold on, please.

It's a Miss McKay from Pinon City.

She wanted to get in touch

with Paul about something or other.

And thought he might be here.

Hello, this is Perry Mason.

Mr. Mason, this is Iris McKay.

You recommended Mr. Drake on a matter three years ago.

Oh, yes, I remember.

Uh, Mr. Drake won't be back until later tonight.

Is there some way I can be of help?

Well, I wanted to ask Mr. Drake

to go to my apartment in West Los Angeles,

1391 Deauville Street.

I can call the manager to let him in.

1391 Deauville Street.

Right, well, Paul should be back by midnight.

A what?

A folder sealed with sealing wax.

Of course, Miss McKay.

Well, I'll be free later.

I could, uh, probably be of some help

if Paul doesn't show up.

And then please, please call me back

and tell me what's inside.

I'll give you the number.

Miss McKay, you sound quite upset.

What do you think is in that folder?

Well, it just might include some money, Mr. Mason.

And if it does, it's stolen money.

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( jingling )

( dialing )

( knock on door )

Oh, hello, Paul.

Hi, Perry. I just called Della.

She, uh, said you were cutting in on my racket.

Well, you can have it all back.

Might not be a bad idea at that.

You lack the, uh, light touch necessary in this business.

But thanks for trying.

Iris McKay seemed so upset when you didn't show up,

I thought I'd better take a look.

Della mentioned a sealed folder.

Said Iris thought there was a possibility

that part of that $33,000

might have been right here in the apartment all this time.

Who knows?

Anyway, it's gone now.

Of course, there might--

Might have been something else

besides money in that folder.

What do you think?

I think I'd better find out.

You know, there's a celebration going on up there--

A celebration. A mystery.

A girl in distress.

Paul, I think you're going to enjoy Pinon City.

( upbeat western theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Iris? Miss McKay.

( chuckling ): Excuse me.

Iris is much prettier than that.

No, no. But do you know her?

A little.

You seem very anxious to meet her.

Just got off the train?

Mm-hm, and she was supposed to meet me here.

Have you seen her?

All right, mister, you're under arrest.

Come along peacefully.

Wait a minute. You're making a mistake.

That's what they all say.

Oh, it's quite all right, officer.

He really wasn't doing anything.

We caught him barefaced, didn't we?

What?

This is Founder's Week, friend.

What was good enough for our forefathers,

is good enough for us.

This week everybody gets dressed up.

A beard or five bucks, that's the law.

Well, not having any fast hair--

Don't try to bribe us, mister.

First the paddy wagon,

then you get mugged, then you pay.

Excuse us, miss.

Really, friend, uh, no offense.

The dough goes for charity.

It's okay.

I guess I missed the person

who was supposed to meet me here anyway.

You mean Iris McKay?

I heard you call her name.

She hasn't been around the station all morning.

Oh, wait a minute, I've got a rental car here some place.

Is it all right if I pick it up?

We'll get it later.

( upbeat western theme playing )

Yes?

I beg your pardon.

I'm looking for Miss McKay.

I'm Miss McKay. Who are you?

My name's Paul Drake.

It's Miss Iris McKay I wanted to see.

That's strange.

Excuse me?

Well, this morning she rented a bicycle.

And, oh, at least an hour ago,

she rode off to the station to meet you.

I see.

Well, if she left here that long ago,

she might have been wanted to go somewhere else first.

Some shopping or maybe some friends

she wanted to say hello to?

Friends? In Pinon City?

No.

Unless W.L.

W.L.?

W.L. Picard, real estate.

She used to work there.

He did say something about,

wouldn't she drop in to see him.

But if she was going to meet you, I don't understand why--

I'll find her, Miss McKay. Thank you.

( suspenseful theme playing )

She was here, all right.

But not for long.

She got all excited about something and left.

Didn't even wait for Mr. Picard to come back.

That's Iris for you.

Uh, excited about what?

Search me.

Mr. Beller was in here and was talking to her.

Beller?

The surveyor from the steel company.

He said something.

Don't ask me what.

And Iris just popped up and ran out.

PAUL: Can you remember in what direction?

SECRETARY: Good afternoon, Mr. Picard.

Can I help you, sir?

I'm looking for Iris McKay.

Oh?

Oh, well, I haven't seen Miss McKay since last evening.

Uh, Dora, I've got some letters

I'd like to get out this afternoon.

Yes, sir.

Miss.

I really don't know where she was going, Mr. Drake.

Can you tell me where I find this man Beller?

Well, I think he said something about getting a haircut.

W.L.: Dora.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Well, all I had mentioned was

that I had been working near that old Buskirk farm,

and how surprised I was to look through my transit

and spot this truck-bed camper parked inside the empty barn.

Inside, mind you.

What did the girl say?

She asked me the color of the camper,

and I told her blue and, pfft,

off she went on her bicycle.

Not too short in the back, please.

The Buskirk farm. Thank you, Mr. Beller.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Iris?

Iris.

( wood clatters )

( tense theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Who are you? And what's going on here?

Why are you looking for Iris?

She's got nothing to do with this.

Nothing to do with what?

DAN: His name's Fred Swan.

( dramatic theme playing )

( car horn honks )

Chief Hagerty, I've known you since you were a boy.

You had very little brains then and even less now.

Why have you arrested my niece?

Now, Miss Sarah, Fred Swan's been killed and it's our job--

I'm going to talk to Iris.

Oh, Aunt Sarah.

Mr. Drake, what is this nonsense?

Why haven't they arrested Dan Southern for murder?

If, as they say, he was out there.

Aunt Sarah, no.

The police seem to feel

that Swan was dead at least an hour

before Dan got there.

However, your niece's bicycle was there.

Her scarf was there.

And she admits she was there. ( phone ringing )

IRIS: I didn't kill him.

Tell us the truth, child.

He'd-- He'd been drinking.

When I asked him where the money was

he just laughed at me.

Then he--

He tried to grab me and--

And he tried to...

I managed to shove him away.

And I just ran.

All right. Half an hour later,

you stumbled into the Diamond farm.

When Al Diamond got back from the fields,

he drove you into town. Is that right?

Yes, and after that the police came--

Iris, if you don't mind,

can I talk to you in my office now?

She can't tell you any more than she already has, chief.

It seems to me--

Never mind, Drake. ( phone ringing )

We just did some matching.

The doc says it was that jack handle

that killed Swan, all right.

And Iris's fingerprints are on it.

( gasps )

Will you come with me, Iris, please?

( dramatic theme playing )

I'm sorry, Miss Sarah.

What--? What do we do now?

If you have no objections, I'll call Los Angeles.

Los Angeles?

An attorney.

Perry Mason.

( dramatic theme playing )

Now, Mr. Needham,

we've got all of the preliminaries out of the way,

we've established the corpus delicti,

as they say in the big cities.

I'm gonna ask you to tell the court

exactly in your own words,

what took place in your caf�

the day Iris McKay returned to town.

Uh, this might seem a bit informal,

but we like to keep things simple here.

Well, let's see.

It was just that Iris McKay wanted to know

about Fred Swan being in town,

and that he hadn't really given her

all that money to hide.

Mr. Needham, please relate just to what the defendant said

to you and you said to her.

I told her about a package Fred Swan had

when he came to my place one night with her.

That was three years ago.

But I got the idea later that that package

might have contained some of that $33,750.

HALE: Well, now, uh, what happened with that package?

ALFRED: Swan gave it to somebody.

HALE: Not the defendant?

No, sir.

To her aunt, Miss Sarah McKay.

I recognized her car, out in my parking lot.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Needham,

did you send the defendant

a copy of the local newspaper

on which you'd marked with crayon

an item announcing Fred Swan's return to Pinon City?

Yes.

And in a note sent along with it,

did you infer that Fred Swan

had probably come back for the missing money?

Yes, I did.

Now, then, did you know that on the day

Iris McKay received your message,

her apartment in Los Angeles

had been broken into and ransacked

after she had left Los Angeles for Pinon City?

No, I didn't know that.

But you did know that she'd be away from home at the time

you were looking for that missing money?

Yes, sure. But--

No more questions.

Being as charitable as possible,

I can only say that Mr. Needham must be mistaken.

I most certainly never received any package

from Mr. Swan.

In fact, I barely knew the man.

I believe the witness qualified his statement

by saying it was your car he saw.

You know perfectly well, Jonathan Hale,

I never permit anyone else to drive it.

And you know perfectly well, Miss Sarah,

that you still haven't directly answered my question.

I simply don't remember the episode.

All right, we'll try something else.

Do you, uh, recognize this photograph?

My grandmother's sister. My great Aunt Hattie.

And, uh--

And this folder here?

You know very well it's my folder.

You also know that it was stolen

from my niece's apartment in Los Angeles.

What was in it?

Papers.

Miss Sarah, you were present

when both the folder and the photograph

were introduced as evidence?

So therefore you know that both items

were found in the barn where Fred Swan was killed?

Now, I ask you again, Miss Sarah,

what was in that folder you gave your niece?

Answer the question, Miss Sarah.

I cannot be forced to testify against myself.

Or to reveal anything that would tend to expose me

to public censure or to destroy my reputation.

So I'm not going to answer.

Well, no more questions.

Cross-examine.

As I understand it, Miss McKay,

you sent a sealed folder to your niece some time ago

for safekeeping?

Yes.

MASON: Was there any money in that folder?

No. There was absolutely no money in it.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Yes, it was the day before Mr. Swan's murder

that Iris McKay came to my cabin

at the Plantation Motel.

She said she was looking for Fred Swan.

Did she say why she was looking for him?

No, but she seemed disappointed to find me

instead of him there.

Thank you.

Cross-examine?

Mrs. Wiltern,

I take it you knew Fred Swan fairly well?

Yes, I met him once or twice here,

several years ago.

And then I saw him again in San Francisco.

Don't you mean, Mrs. Wiltern,

that you visited with him

while he was in prison at San Quentin,

near San Francisco?

Yes.

Mrs. Wiltern, would you please tell this court

your maiden name?

Marta Buskirk.

Then it was your family

who originally owned the Buskirk farm?

The farm where Fred Swan was found murdered?

It was my family.

All the Buskirks are dead now.

Mrs. Wiltern,

when did the Buskirks sell their farm?

A little over three years ago.

To whom did they sell it?

Well, I don't remember exactly.

Yes, it was a woman from San Diego.

A Letitia Cochrane.

And who handled the sale of the farm?

MARTA: W.L. Picard, he handled the whole transaction.

Your Honor, I won't make a formal objection

to this extraneous type of cross-examination,

but the weekend's coming up and--

Mr. Mason, it does seem you are going afield.

I've just one more question, Your Honor.

It's a matter of record, anyway.

Now, Mrs. Wiltern,

for how much did Mr. Picard sell the, uh, Buskirk--?

Your family's farm?

Forty-five thousand dollars.

Listen, how many times do I have to tell you, I--

HALE: Mr. Southern. Mr. Southern, now, please.

the court has already ruled you a hostile witness,

so you don't have to go losing your temper.

Just answer the questions "yes" or "no."

All right.

Now, you found out from police officer Gene Barr

that he saw Iris McKay bicycle out the east road

toward the Buskirk farm?

Correct? Yes.

And knowing Fred Swan was camping out there,

you hurried out to the farm,

and so found the remains of Fred Swan?

Yes.

Now, the day before the murder

you told the defendant where she could find Fred Swan,

or where you thought she could find him.

Now, on the day of the murder,

you knew where he was but you didn't tell her.

Now, was that because you were afraid

of what might happen if Iris McKay found Fred Swan?

No. Why should I be afraid?

That's not true.

Are you trying to say--?

That's all. That's all, thank you.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Southern, on the day of the murder,

did you neglect to tell Iris McKay where Swan was

because you were jealous

of a possible intimate relationship between them?

No, of course not.

There was no relationship. There never was.

But nevertheless you were jealous?

Of course I was jealous.

I hated Swan.

I threatened him too.

I told him to get out of town and he didn't.

I could have swung that tire iron at him

with a great deal of pleasure.

MASON: No further questions.

Yes, I drove up to the field adjacent to the Buskirk farm

that same afternoon.

The afternoon of the murder.

What were you doing there, Mr. Picard?

Well, some surveyors who've been working for the steel company

have been using my office and records.

I just wanted to see if they needed anything, that's all.

But apparently they'd already finished work.

Would you tell the court what you saw

out there that afternoon?

I saw Iris McKay bicycle up

to the entrance of the Buskirk farm

and then turn in toward the barn area.

HALE: Anything else?

No. I didn't see the surveyors,

I just kept on driving toward town.

No more questions.

Court is adjourned until 9:30 Monday morning.

( dramatic theme playing )

Hi.

Thanks.

Well, I found out that Letitia Cochrane doesn't own

the Buskirk farm anymore.

She sold it to, uh, Intersolidated Steel.

Did you speak to her?

No, I couldn't find her.

I just got the records.

Here's all there is on her.

Her living in San Diego dates back 26 years.

Hm, what's this?

It's a list of all those arrested and fined

for not wearing beards.

What about them?

I have a hunch one of them is our thief.

Oh, nine names here. Our thief?

You mean the one that busted into Iris's apartment?

How do you figure that?

I admit it's a, uh, long shot.

But unless the thief came up here prepared,

he arrived in town barefaced.

Oh, in which case he would be arrested,

and mugged.

Hey, they even took my picture.

Better get going.

See you later.

( dramatic theme playing )

During the weekend, Your Honor,

certain new evidence has been uncovered

and I believe, with the court's indulgence,

we can clarify certain aspects

of this case by recalling several witnesses

for further cross-examination.

Oh, Your Honor, this is highly irregular.

If the counselor wishes to put on a case for the defense--

It was Mr. Hale who wished

to keep this hearing simple, I believe.

If recalling a few witnesses

will help us, Mr. Mason,

uh, let's get on with the business.

I would like to recall W.L. Picard to the stand.

CLERK: Mr. Picard, please.

I remind you that you're still under oath, Mr. Picard.

A little over three years ago,

you handled the sale of the Buskirk farm

for the family of Marta Wiltern, is that correct?

Yes.

You transacted a sale which amounted to, uh, $45,000.

The purchaser was one Letitia Cochrane of San Diego.

I've been trying to reach Miss Cochrane,

but without success.

Now, when was the last time

you saw her, Mr. Picard?

Three years ago.

Three years ago.

That was when she bought the farm.

I understand she just sold the farm

to Intersolidated Steel.

Did you also handle that transaction for her?

Yes, but by mail.

Now, when she bought the farm,

there was, um, some sort of option

connected with the sale, wasn't there, Mr. Picard?

I-- I believe so.

Are you then saying that an option

to purchase that property was given to

Intersolidated Steel three years ago?

Yes, I think so. Uh--

Uh, y-yes.

An option to purchase the Buskirk farm

for $225,000.

Nearly a quarter of a million?

W.L.: Y-Yes.

But of course it was only an option to buy.

Isn't it also true, Mr. Picard,

that the steel company's interest in that property

was based on advance knowledge

of a federal dam being constructed

here in this valley?

A dam created by a federal commission.

A commission on which you alone from this area served.

And of which only you could have know,

and from which only you could have profited?

Well, of course, I was on that commission.

And of course I would know about the plans

for building the dam.

But you have no right to insinuate that--

Now, tell us,

that option we just spoke of,

how much did it cost the steel company?

I don't exactly remember.

Eleven thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.

Is that figure correct?

I think so.

Now, the Buskirk family wanted 45,000 for the property.

Intersolidated Steel was willing

to pay $11,250 for an option.

That left $33,750.

Yes, I-- I suppose so.

Now, that's a figure that sticks in my mind, Mr. Picard.

Wasn't that the exact sum Fred Swan stole from his bank?

Or rather, embezzled and tried to make it look like theft?

Well, now, of course, you're making it seem--

Fred came to me with a deal.

We had to close it in a hurry.

I told him if he could raise that amount of money,

that I would take care of everything else.

So he brought me the money in cash.

I never asked him where it came from.

Afterwards, when I found out that the police

did not believe his story about the bank and the robbery

well, it was too late to do anything then.

But you and Swan still remained partners.

And it was you who supplied the middleman.

Uh, in this case, Letitia Cochrane.

Yes.

I did it through her.

And so that $33,750

never at any time had one thing to do with Iris McKay?

W.L.: No, it didn't.

Now, would you, uh, just tell this court

where we can find Letitia Cochrane.

I told you.

I haven't seen her in over three years.

That's enough, Mr. Picard,

I certainly wouldn't want you to perjure yourself.

Your Honor,

at this time I would like to

recall Sarah McKay to the stand.

JUDGE: You may step down, sir.

Miss Sarah, will you step to the stand, please.

Miss McKay,

have you ever used the name Letitia Cochrane?

I've been known as Sarah McKay for 61 years.

In Pinon City, yes.

But I refer to San Diego, 26 years ago.

Isn't it true that you once lived

in San Diego for approximately five months

under the name of Letitia Cochrane?

Yes.

It's true.

And three years ago you allowed

Mr. Picard to use that name?

Oh, I didn't willingly allow him to--

I know it-- It was wrong.

But I had no idea of everything that was involved

when I signed that name.

Why?

Were you afraid of Mr. Picard?

Were you afraid because of something he knew about you?

Miss McKay,

I call your attention

to, uh, that sealed folder.

The folder you sent to your niece,

and which was later stolen.

I ask you now,

would you please tell this court just what was in that folder.

Now, you've already testified

that there wasn't any money in it.

A copy of my will,

some insurance papers.

Just-- Just personal family things.

What else?

What knowledge did Mr. Picard have of you

that enabled him to coerce you to such an extent?

What else was in that folder, Miss McKay?

A birth certificate...

...for Mary Frances Cochrane.

My daughter.

( courtroom murmuring )

( gavel tapping )

( sobbing )

If she'd lived,

she would have been a young lady now.

Almost the same age as my niece

and very like her, I think.

She died at childbirth.

That's why I could never bear to be close to Iris.

She reminded me so of--

I'm sorry, Miss McKay.

But there must have been something more.

You must have had more reason

for keeping everything so secret.

It isn't as though I were a child.

I was 35 at the time.

Go on.

Well,

just before the baby was born,

my husband left me.

He ran away.

Your husband?

I think it's called common-law husband.

( sobbing )

( courtroom murmuring )

( gavel tapping )

We were talking about the folder

stolen from the defendant's apartment.

If Picard and Swan

were partners and knew where they'd spent that $33,750,

then obviously both of them knew

there was no money in that folder.

But no other person would have known that fact, would they?

In particular, a person who was anxious

to find that money.

A person who was watching all the time.

A person who followed Iris

and knew she'd called my office in Los Angeles.

A person who then hired a man named Eugene Liston,

to go to her apartment and steal that folder.

All right. All right.

I was after that folder.

But all I wanted was the reward.

I mean-- I mean, at first I didn't know anything

about land deals.

Only in that folder

when I discovered about Letitia Cochrane.

And when I went out and tried to make a deal with Swan,

when I tried to cut in on him and Picard,

well, h-he went crazy.

He'd been drinking. He was like a crazy man.

He lunged at me with a board.

I knocked him down. I had to.

I-It was self-defense.

Was it self-defense when you then crushed his skull

with a jack handle?

( dramatic theme playing )

When Swan tried to molest me,

I grabbed the jack handle to protect myself.

Well, he backed away and I just threw it down and ran.

But Needham saw you.

He'd been talking to Swan before you arrived.

While you were there he kept out of sight.

After you left, Swan became ugly,

and Needham knocked him down.

Then using the same weapon he'd seen you touch,

he finished him off,

being careful not to leave any prints of his own.

What about Marta Wiltern?

What did she have to do with it?

Well, she must have suspected what was going on

when she learned the steel company

had had an option on her land.

So she either tried to cut herself in,

or she wanted to get even with the men

who'd swindled her family.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

I'm so very, very grateful.

Aunt Sarah, may I borrow the car?

Whatever for?

You know I don't allow--

Well, if the young man doesn't have a surrey,

I guess a horseless carriage is the next best thing.

Heh. Thank you, Aunt Sarah.

Miss Sarah, just how old is that machine?

Twenty-two years.

But I think it's time to trade it in for a new model.

Don't you?

( dramatic theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )